Official records document Phelekezela Mphoko as serving as the acting President of Zimbabwe from 21 to 24 November 2017. A career diplomat and politician born in the Bubi District in 1940, he occupied various high-level governmental roles, including a tenure as Second Vice President, before his death in Bulawayo in 2024 at the age of 84.
Early Life and Political Formation
Formal education took place at David Livingstone Memorial School and Mzilikazi High School. Mphoko later attended the Tshototsho Agricultural Breeding and Experimental School. Political activism defined his early life, resulting in an arrest in 1963 linked to political violence. He subsequently traveled to the Soviet Union to undergo military training, establishing his role within the liberation movement.
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Before his elevation to national executive office, Mphoko served as a diplomat for Zimbabwe. He held the position of ambassador to Russia and Botswana. From 2011 until 2014, he functioned as the ambassador of Zimbabwe to South Africa, based in Pretoria.
Vice Presidency and Executive Roles
On 10 December 2014, an appointment elevated him to the position of Second Vice President of Zimbabwe. He took the oath of office on 12 December 2014. Beyond his executive duties, he managed the ministerial portfolio of National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation. By 6 July 2015, he assumed responsibility for the coordination and implementation of government policy.
Transition of 2017
In November 2017, Mphoko became the acting President of Zimbabwe. This status lasted from 21 to 24 November. Due to his absence from the country during this window, his official standing regarding this presidency remained subject to interpretation. His term as Vice President concluded on 27 November 2017 following the dissolution of the cabinet by Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Fast facts
- Born: 1940, Bubi District
- Died: 2024, Bulawayo
- Citizenship: Zimbabwe
- Ambassador to South Africa: 2011-2014
- Second Vice President: 2014-2017
- Acting President: 21-24 November 2017
- Languages: English
Questions readers ask
What was the extent of his diplomatic service?
He served as the ambassador for Zimbabwe to Russia, Botswana, and South Africa.
Did he hold the office of President?
He held the position of acting President from 21 to 24 November 2017, though his official standing is categorized as unclear because he was not in the country at that time.
Achievements
- Second Vice President of Zimbabwe (2014–2017)
- ambassador of Zimbabwe to South Africa (2011–2014)
- President of Zimbabwe (2017–2017)
